Schools
Whiz Kid: Grace French
Each week, Benicia Patch will feature individual kids, teens or youth groups that wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about your amazing Whiz Kids.
This week's Benicia Whiz Kid: Grace French
Grade: Fifth grade
School: Mathew Turner Elementary School
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Accomplishment: Grace French is the Student Council president of her school, after serving as secretary last year. “I like it. It's fun,” she says.
As president, she brought the Foster a Dream Pillow Pals project to her school. The student body was asked to donate new pillows, pillowcases and plush stuffed animals. The bedtime comfort items are donated to foster children who are often removed from their homes with none of their personal belongings. Foster a Dream also collects new pajamas for foster kids. Thanks to Grace's idea, the school collected $300, 68 pillows, 91 plush animals and 48 pillowcases. Grace's class tie-dyed the white pillow cases to personalize them.
Find out what's happening in Beniciafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
When asked how she got the idea, Grace said, “One of my parents' friends adopted a son through the fost-adopt program.” Grace had wanted to do something with Foster a Dream, an organization founded in Benicia that now has offices in Martinez.
Key to Grace's Awesomeness: “Grace is a very compassionate, smart and determined young lady,” says Laura French, her mom. “She gives everything she does 110 percent effort. Her drive and determination have resulted in her success as a student (straight A and GATE student), as Matthew Turner's Student Council president, as a piano player, and as a competitive softball and soccer player.”